Westminster Canterbury’s Next Steps-Live Update to Residents-June 4, 2020
Today’s update included Westminster Canterbury’s next steps toward restarting, reengaging and reopening during the COVID-19 pandemic. It featured John Burns, President and CEO; Glendon Kemp, Manager of Security; Debra Jacobsen, Administrator Resident Services; and Lynn McClintock, Director Pastoral Care.
The following updates were shared during the live briefing on TV970.
John Burns
Yesterday we shared that we have a new resident case of COVID-19 in Parsons Health Center. This individual was infected while in the hospital and was tested by Westminster Canterbury upon her return. Today, we tested all the staff on Parsons Health Center first floor and plan to test all staff of other floors in the near future. The housekeeper who tested positive for COVID-19 last week was hospitalized, but she is improving, has been discharged from the hospital and is recovering at home.
Tomorrow we will share an update about testing and quarantine in the Assisted Living areas of Avalon, The Gables and Monticello.
Thank you to our staff who have been amazing from the beginning of the pandemic. Everyone has had a great attitude and complied with every precaution. This experience has been a hardship. Staff have accepted working new roles. Nursing, assisted living, dining and housekeeping staff have dealt with stressful working conditions. Many staff had their hours reduced. The management team unanimously agreed to have their own pay reduced at the very beginning of this emergency. For these reasons and many more, we are thankful to have the team we have at Westminster Canterbury. We are grateful for residents’ support and understanding as we carefully navigate our next steps in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Please refer to this memo for the details of Westminster Canterbury’s Next Steps.
Glendon Kemp
Resident Screening Process Beginning June 8
Independent Living residents may leave campus for essential personal business and medical appointments. Management will not define what is essential. Rather, residents will determine what is essential for them.
Upon returning to campus, residents should enter the Main Entrance in the lane closest to the Gatehouse for temperature screenings. A log of residents returning to campus will be maintained to help with contact tracing if an outbreak occurs. This applies to all residents, including those driving, walking or biking off campus. If residents return with a fever or symptoms, they will return to their apartment and be evaluated by the Clinic. Temperature screenings will be taken with oral thermometers, as radar thermometers are unreliable for those who have been in a vehicle for any period of time. When Glebe residents return to campus, they should come to the Gatehouse for screening prior to returning to the Glebe.
If residents travel off campus overnight, for personal or medical reasons, they will go under quarantine and be tested for COVID-19 five days after returning to campus. Once they receive a negative test result, their quarantine will end. If residents do not want to be tested for COVID-19, they must enter 14-day quarantine when returning to campus. Please notify Resident Services at ext. 6082 if you plan to be away overnight.
Debra Jacobsen
Transportation
Transportation will offer services for a fee for residents who do not drive to go off campus for essential personal business and medical appointments. Residents who use transportation to go off campus and leave the vehicle will be screened upon return. Call ext. 6263.
Galleria
The Galleria will open on June 8 for window shopping and in-person purchasing from noon to 3 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Window shopping will allow you to look into the shop through open doors, and selections will be brought to you for a closer look. You may pay by credit card or your Westminster Canterbury account. Same-day delivery or pick up will still be available for orders placed by 3:30 p.m. on specified workdays. Orders may be placed anytime by leaving a message on ext. 1523. Call Ginger for more details.
Grocery Delivery Changes
As we reengage with the community, in the coming weeks we may change our grocery delivery programs through Publix and Azalea, but we will give residents plenty of notice before the changes go into place.
Lynn McClintock
A Lectio Divina Small Group will meet Thursdays, June 11 to July 2, 1:30 -2:30 p.m., on the Roof Terrace. Lectio Divina is a meditative way to read scripture. Because of the six-person limit to group meetings, we will not be able to accommodate all residents in the first session. Lectio Divina will be offered by Rev. Dr. Lynn McClintock for several sessions over the coming weeks in various areas of campus. Pastoral Care will maintain a waiting list. Please call Vanessa Perry at ext. 1502 to sign up.
Acts 2:17
“In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.”
Prayer – attributed to an Irish Franciscan order
May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers and half-truths,
So that you may live deep within your heart.
May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people,
so that you may work for justice, freedom, and peace.
May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer pain, rejection, and hunger,
So that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and turn their pain into joy.
And may God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you can make a difference in the world,
So that you can do what others claim cannot be done to bring justice and kindness to all God’s children.
Amen.